Bagyong Butchoy June 17, 2012 Update

Bagyong Butchoy satellite image as of 6:32 a.m, June 17, 2012

Bagyong Butchoy, which intensified into a typhoon yesterday, has maintained its strength and is still moving North Northwestward, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported Sunday, June 17.

The Philippine weather bureau said that Bagyong Butchoy was last spotted at 430 km East Northeast of Virac, Catanduanes and is expected to be at 600 km Northeast of Basco, Batanes on Monday evening.

Typhoon Butchoy has a maximum winds of 160 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 195 kp, it added.

There were no public storm signals that were raised.

According to the PAGASA, Butchoy will enhance the Southwest Monsoon that will bring rains over Luzon and Visayas especially over the western section which may trigger flashfloods and landslides. It thereby advices fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the seaboards of Luzon, Visayas and Eastern Mindanao due to the big waves.

The rainfall amount being yielded by Butchoy is estimated to be from 15 - 25 mm per hour, which is considered "heavy," within the 500 km diameter of the Typhoon.